The Chief Medical Officer for Wales has recently published guidelines for exercise referral schemes, stating that they must only be made to instructors who are registered with the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) at level 3 as an Advanced Instructor and with qualifications for working with specialist populations.

The Welsh Assembly Government has set ambitious targets in its Physical Activity Strategy with the Register being seen as a key player in delivering higher levels of participation in physical activity.

In January, John Byers joined the REPs’ team as its first Welsh administrator in a part-time role specially created to establish a clear point of entry for professionals in Wales and to develop a Welsh language dimension to REPs’ services.

John looks after and processes the registration of REPs’ members in Wales as well as liaising with SkillsActive, Sports Council Wales and the Exercise Council of Wales, and other trade and professional associations in the region, to promote the aims of the Register in Wales.

In addition, he is involved in working towards providing standards for the Welsh fitness industry and encouraging those working within it to show their support for continuing education and excellence by joining.

The Register in Wales offers a bilingual service, with most of its documents already translated into Welsh, a separate newsletter, and Welsh language area on the REPs Website.